Hudson School Committee approves $305K budget cuts

HUDSON - The School Committee approved more than $305,000 in proposed budget cuts Tuesday, but the district may need to cut an additional $100,000.

According to Superintendent Jodi Fortuna, the initial reductions were thought to have closed the deficit in the fiscal year 2017 budget, leaving the district with a balanced budget that would not cause any drastic changes to programs or student services. However, she said new data from Tuesday afternoon showed that even more cuts may be needed, stressing the word "may."

"I'm hoping that doesn't happen," Fortuna said. "The way things swing so quickly, I don't want to overreact or raise a cause for alarm right now. But that is a potential we could be facing as we look at our June meetings."

Committee member George Luoto raised concerns that the schools were not receiving a large enough budget from the town. However, according to Fortuna, the public schools received a larger increase in funds than many other town departments this year. The public schools received a three percent increase in funding for 2017, but it only received little more than a two percent increase last year. The school district had to cut roughly $1.2 million from the budget last year.

"Even though we're losing revenue as a town ... it's hurting the schools, we can't continue getting cuts of $1.2 million and $400,000," Luoto said. "I realize we've lost Intel, I realize where my taxes are. But the fact of it is, you keep cutting supplies and materials for students ... somebody has got to realize what's happening here."

The initial cuts, totaling $305,294, took aim at unnecessary spending, including small reductions to high school technology, athletic supplies and principal's office supplies. Large cuts were made to the Quinn Middle School supplies budget and to the regularly over-funded Chapter 222 program for students who have been expelled or suspended for long terms. The cuts were approved unanimously by the committee.

Also on Tuesday, the committee approved a $10,500 contract with Atlantic Construction & Management, Inc. for the re-roof project at Mulready Elementary. The money for the contract is not new spending, but comes from a town warrant in conjunction with state funds as part of the larger Mulready renovations set to begin this summer.

Brad Avery can be reached at 508-626-4449 or bavery@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @BradAvery_MW.